Grove Farm, Ambleside
Sensitive reuse of redundant farm outbuildings into holiday accommodation and a leisure building, blending Lakeland stone tradition with contemporary design and refined birch plywood interiors, enhancing heritage, landscape, and visitor experience.
- Size/Scale
- Location Lake District
- Client RE Howard & Sons
- Completion 2025
Grove Farm, Ambleside
Nestled within the Ambleside hills, Grove Farm is a traditional Lake District farmhouse operating as holiday cottages, now enriched through the sensitive reuse of redundant agricultural outbuildings to create additional holiday accommodation and leisure facilities, including a therapeutic pool.
Externally, the design is deliberately discreet, rooted in local craftsmanship and the timeless character of Lakeland stone. New walls are built seamlessly into the existing fabric, reusing local material and laid with exceptional precision to emulate traditional techniques. Traditional stone and timber construction are paired with contemporary detailing, including expansive panes of glazing that create a floating roof effect. This allows the buildings to blend effortlessly into the landscape when viewed publicly, while offering guests strikingly modern experiences within.
Internally, spaces are clad in finely detailed birch plywood, forming sharp, refined lines that frame uninterrupted views of the Lake District hills. The warmth and precision of the timber finish creates a calm, contemporary atmosphere, complementing the rugged exterior and heightening the sense of retreat.
Sustainability is embedded in the project through a fabric-first, low-energy approach that minimises both embodied and operational carbon. High levels of insulation, airtight detailing, and carefully positioned glazing maximise passive solar gain and natural ventilation, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Landscaping replaces degraded concrete with permeable surfaces, enhancing biodiversity with meadow planting and soft boundaries.